Electron-discharge device



Patented km. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,654,899 PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL SCHWERIN, 01' NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y-, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application fled August 7, 1924. Serial llo. 730,583.

This invention relates to electron discharge devices and more particularly to the grid electrode therefor.

The object of this invention is an eflicient and easily manufactured grid structure for electron discharge devices in which the manufacturing operations are materially reduced. a

This object is attained by providing agrid electrode comprising a punched metallic frame having integral ears formed on the edging thereof and spacing apart and mechanically clamping the grid lateral wires to the punched frame by pressing the ears back on the frame.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illus trates a front elevation of the punched frame; Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the grid with'th-e lateral wires held in position; Fig. 4 illustrates an electron dis charge device embodying the invention; and Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the gr id structure.

The grid electrode consists of a frame punched from a single sheet of metal, preferably nickel. The punched frame consists of parallel side members 10 and llwhich are joined together at the upper and lower ends by connecting strips 12 and 13. A plurality of closely spaced connecting strips 14 and 15 are provided intermediate the ends of the side members 10 and 11. The outer edges of the parallel members 10 and 11 are provided with L shaped cuts 16 to provide clamping ears 17 for the grid wires. These cuts are in opposed relation toward the center of the side members whereby the ears on the upper portion of the side members will be in the same plane as the ears on the lower portion when the grid frame is bentin its final form. A- pair of V shaped slots 18 are cut on the edges of parallel members 10 and 11, adjacent to the connecting strips 14 and 15. A similar slot is cut in the parallel members adjacent to the connecting strip 13. The edges 19 of the members 10 and 11 are bent at right angles to the plane of the grid frame proper, to provide reinforc ing means for the frame. The ears 17, pro- Vided by the L shaped cuts in the parallel members, are bent outwardly at right angles to the surface of the reinforcing member 19. The grid frame is now in condition for winding the lateral wires on the frame. This 0 eration is more expeditiously accomp ished by roviding two framessuch as are shown In ig; 1 'and placing them on a windmg tool, similar'to the tool shown in R. F. Trimble U. S. Patent 1,465,381 dated August 21, 1923. The grid frames are securelyfastened to the upper and lower faces of the winding tool, by any known means, and a continuous wire, preferably nickel,- wound around the frames, adjacent .turns of the w1re being equally spaced a art by means of r the projectin cars 17. After the required number 0 turns have been applied to the frames, a ressing tool or other 'implement is passed over the outwardly extending ears 17 to press them over the assoelated turns of the grid wire, thereby securely clamping the wires to the grid frame. The pair of frames are then severed from the winding tool in the same manner as described in the above mentioned patent, by cutting the successive turns of w1re on. the edge of the tool and thereafter trimming the wires adjacent the outer edge of the clampin ears 17. The two frames are removed f f'om the winding tool by cutting the securing wires and are bent at the V shaped slots 18, to form a box-like structure. The V shaped slots provided a mortised joint for the reinforcing edges 19. This construction provides a rigid frame for the grid wires 20, in which the connecting strips 14 and 15 reinforce the frame at the upper end and the connecting strips 12 and 13 reinforce the frame-at the lower end. The parallel grid surfaces are joined at the lower end preferably by spot welding. The angular sha e of the frame adjacent the ears 17 provi es leverage means for tightening the grid lateral wires in case of loose winding of the wire, since the edges 19 can be bent inwardly to tension the wires 20 and thereby utilize the ridges formed by bending over the edge 19 as points of leverage for tensioning the wires.

Fig. 4 shows an electron dischar e device embodying a grid structure, as escribed above, and consists of an enclosing vessel 21 having a press 22, on which a glass cane arbor 23 is fused. The plate electrode 24 which consists of parallel plane surfaces is supported from the glass arbor 23. A grid 25, made in accordance with this inventlon, is supported from the glass arbor 23, between the parallel surfaces of the plate electrode 24. An oxide coated filament 26 is positioned within the box-like structure of the grid and en ported at its upper end from the lesser or by means of w1re connections 2 The glass vessel is provided with a circular metallic base 28 having an outwardly extending bayonet pin 29, to provide locking means when the device is inserted in a vacuum tube socket. The lead wires 30, from the electrodes are sealed in the press 22 and connected to contacts 31 attached to the underside of the base 28.

It is, of course. vunderstood that various modifications can be made in the details of the structure, for instance, as shown in Fig. 5, in which construction of the grid structure the punching, cutting and forming operations may be performed at the same t1me.- The grid may be punched from a single sheetof nickel, to provide connecting strips 32, reinforcing ridges 33, and supporting EOItlOIlS 34, which are in the same plane as t e connecting strips 32. In a construction of this ty e, the punching of the frame, forming the rldge and cutting the L shaped slots 35 may be performed in one o eration, thereby greatly reducing the manu acturing cost of the finished roduc't. The bending of the cars 36 and wlnding the wires 37 on the frame may be performed in the same manner as described above in connection with Fig. 1.

A grid structure made in accordance with this invention provides an easily manufactured element in which the numerous welding operations are eliminated and a punched vice having a frame member havin lateral wires of substantially uniform iameter and spacing throughout its length is produced at greatly reduced manufacturin cost.

Although the invention has been described in connection with an electron discharge delass vessel, it is apparent, that the invention can be applied to other types of vacuum tubes wit out departing from the scope of the invention as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A grid electrode comprising a punched frame, reinforcing ridges formed near the edges thereof, portions of the frame adjacent to said ridges eing cut to form projections, and lateral wires equally spaced on said frame and clamped thereto by means of said projections.

2. A grid electrode com rising a punched frame, lateral wires equal y spaced on said frame, ridges formed on said frame, and integral projections. on said frame, said wires passing over said ridges and being held taut b said projections.

. 3. A gri electrode comprising a punched frame, pro'ections formed on the edges thereof a p urality of wires clam ed to said frame by said projections, and ridges adjacent to said projections to provide reinforcing means for said frame.

4. A grid electrode comprising a punched frame, projections formed on the edges thereof a p urality of wires clamped to said frame y said projections, and ridges adacent to said pro ections to tension said wires.

5. A grid electrode comprising a frame having parallel plane surfaces, lugs formed on the outer edges thereof, a plurality of wires equally s aced on said frame, said lugs being bent ack on the frame to clamp sa1d wires in osition.

6. A metho of makinga rid electrode which consists of punching a rame member from a sin le metal sheet, cuttin ears on the paralle edges thereof, ben ing said edges at right angles to the plane surfaces of said frame, formin said frame into a box-like structure having parallel planary surfaces, winding a continuous wire around said frame, pressing said ears over said wires, and thereafter cutting said wires adjacent said ears.

7. The method of making a grid electrode which consists of punching a frame member from a single piece of metal, forming ears on the edges thereof, winding a contlnuous wire around said frame, clamping said ears over said wire, and cutting sa1d wire at the outer edge of said ears.

8. A id comprising a punched frame, a plurality of lateral wires equally spaced on said frame, and overlapping lugs formed on the edges of'said frame for clamping said wires in position.

9. A grid electrode comprising a punched frame having integral projections formed on the edges thereof, and a plurality of wires on sa1d frame, said wires being equally spaced and held by said projections.

'10. A grid electrode comprising a punched metallic frame having reinforcing ridges formed thereon, integral projecting ears on said frame, and a plurality of lateral wires equally spaced on said frame, said ears and ridges maintaining said wires taut on said frame.

11. A grid comprising a punched frame having inte ral projectlons formed on the edge thereo a ridge formed adjacent said projections, and a plurality of wires equally spaced on said frame by said rojections said wires bein bent around said ridge and clamped to sai frame by said projections.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6 day of August A. D., 1924.

PAUL SCHWERIN. 

